In the early morning of July 11, Beijing time, a key matchup in the semifinals of the European Championship, Netherlands played England. The Orange Shirt is ranked seventh in the world, a quasi-first-class team in Europe, and a "super dark horse" in the top four; The Three Lions are ranked fifth in the world and the most expensive team in world football, and this matchup can be called a preview of the final.
In the first half, Simmons hit the world wave, Kane made a yellow spot and scored, Foden was cleared by the goal line and hit the post, Dumfries made a goal-line save and hit the box with a header. Saka's second-half blast was disallowed and Watkins hammered the decision to make England 2-1 Netherlands to qualify for the European Championship final for the second time in a row.
In the summer of 1966, England hosted the coveted Remet Cup at the World Cup hosted on home soil, which was the only glorious moment in English football history to reach the top of the world.
Since then, England has made many achievements in international competitions, including reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup twice in 1990 and 2018, showing the world their football heritage and quality.
In 1968, England made their European Championship debut and began their journey at the European Championships. At Euro 2024 in Germany, England stood on the battlefield of the main stage of the European Championship for the 11th time, and they crossed the challenges of Slovakia, Switzerland and Netherlands with determined steps, all the way to the final. This is the second time in a row that England has stepped into the final after the last European Championship, fighting for national glory.
Looking back at the glorious moments of the England team in international competitions, the 1966 World Cup final, England and West Germany, has become a classic in football history. In the end, England won 4-2 and forever engraved the World Cup trophy on the team's history.
In the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, England and West Germany met again in a narrow way, and although they lost on penalties, their performance earned the respect of the world. In the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, England faced the challenge of Croatia and lost 1-2, but the fighting spirit of the players on the field will always be engraved in the hearts of fans.
As of July 2024, England has participated in a total of 16 World Cup finals, and each trip carries the glory of the country and the expectations of fans. In addition to the World Cup and European Championships, England has also left a footprint in competitions such as the UEFA Nations League, showing the multi-faceted strength of the team.
In the long history of the England team, a number of outstanding players have emerged, such as the legendary goalkeeper Hilton, who has defended the goal of 125 games for the Three Lions in his 20-year international career, writing his own glorious chapter. Among the non-goalkeepers, Wayne Rooney has become the player with the most appearances with 120 appearances, and every time he appears, he has injected endless energy into the team.
Back in the European Championship final, the opening whistle blew, and the Netherlands team immediately showed a high level of competitive form, creating multiple threats through rapid transmission and pressing. Just seven minutes later, teenager Xavi · Simons broke the ball at the feet of England midfielder Declan Rice and then volleyed the ball like a meteor across the night sky and into the corner of the goal, giving Netherlands a fantastic lead.
It was Simmons' first goal at an international tournament and a great start to the tournament for the Netherlands. England suffered another unfavourable start in three knockout games in a row, but they did not sink and quickly adjusted their strategy and launched a fierce counterattack.
England's attack was pouring in, with the likes of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden taking turns trying to tear apart the Netherlands defence. In the 17th minute, Dumfries inadvertently fouled in the box and England were awarded a penalty.
At this point, captain Harry · Kane stepped up, he stood calmly in front of the penalty spot, and in one fell swoop to equalize the score. Kane has been extremely efficient in scoring goals in this tournament, threatening with every touch of the ball, and has become the absolute heart of England's attack.
The game entered a climax, the two sides came and went, and wonderful shots emerged one after another. England penetrated through a short pass and Foden had a good chance to go on a solo shot, but his shot was saved by the Netherlands goalkeeper.
Dumfries' header bounced off the crossbar and England escaped. Immediately after, Foden's long-range shot hit the post as well, and the luck of both teams seemed to be at its peak. Unfortunately, Netherlands' Depay was injured in a scramble and had to leave the pitch early, which had an impact on Netherlands' attacking organization.
At the end of the first half, the two sides played to a 1-1 draw, and although England equalized, the Netherlands were still sharp, and the duel between the two teams was a needle-to-needle, and no one could easily gain the upper hand.
In the rematch, the coaches of both sides made targeted substitution adjustments, aiming to strengthen the team's attacking power and defensive stability. Netherlands took a set-piece opportunity and Van Dijk's header was saved by the England goalkeeper. Simons' volley was also denied and England's defence was outstanding.
England's Bukayo Saka scored a goal in an attack, but it was disallowed for offside. Harry Kane and Phil Foden were substituted before Palmer came off the bench and missed a great chance to extend the lead with a shot that went just wide.
Just as it looked like the game was about to end in a draw, in the 91st minute, Palmer sent a precise through ball, Watkins calmly pushed in the box, and the ball went into the net, England completed the stunning, 2-1 against Netherlands, and successfully qualified for the final.
This goal not only showed the resilience and counter-attacking efficiency of the England team, but also made the fans feel the uncertainty and charm of the football game.
Throughout the game, both Netherlands and England showed a high level of competition and teamwork. Netherlands' start to the lead, England's stubborn counter-attack, and the comeback in the final moments are worth remembering.
Although the Netherlands were defeated, their performance on the pitch earned respect; The England team, on the other hand, had the last laugh with their indomitable fighting spirit and calm handling at critical moments. This duel is not only a test of the players' skills and psychology, but also the best interpretation of the spirit of football. Let's hope that England will continue to write their own legendary chapter in the final.
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